Nursery unit



J. B. TIGRETT Dec. 29, 1964 NURSERY UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17,

FIG. 3

INVEN TOR JOHN BURTON TIGRETT ATTORNEY J. B. TIGRETT NURSERY UNIT Dec. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1961 FIG.

INVENTOR JOHN BURTON TIGRETT BY @w fi ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed July 17, 1961, Ser. No. 124,668 2 Claims. (Cl. -3)

This invention relates in general to infant equipment, and more particularly, to an article of nursery furniture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nursery unit adapted for multiple purpose usage, being so constructed for easy convertibility into a play pen, a baby bed, a dressing table, or a bassinet; and the operation of which does not require developed skill on the part of the user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an article of nursery furniture having a simplicity of parts, and adapted for ready folding into either operative position of into a collapsed, compact unit for easy portability and storage in minimum space; the component parts being sturdy for long-lasting, hard, effective usage; and which is sufiiciently light in weight for convenient manipulation by the average housewife.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an article of nursery furniture which is Versatile in usage; which can be most economically produced; and which is reliable and safe for infants.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings (two sheets) wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a nursery unit constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, with portions of the netting being broken away, and showing the unit in full downward position for use as a play pen.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view.

FIGURE 5 is a side view showing the unit in upper position for utilization as an infant dressing table.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generally designates an article of infant furniture herein for sake of brevity referred to as a nursery unit, adapted for multiple purpose usage, comprising an upper, generally rectangular rim or frame 1 having side portions 2, 2 and parallel end sections 3, 3' and being fabricated preferably of light weight, tubular stock. Affixed to said upper rim 1 adjacent each corner portion thereof is a depending, short, mounting bracket 4 to each of which is pivotally engaged the upper end of a leg 5. Said legs 5 are of two-part construction comprising an upper tubular section 6 and a lower tubular section 7, the latter being of relatively reduced diameter for reception within the associated upper section 6 in telescoping relationship thereto. Carried at the lower end of each lower section 7 is a caster 8 for ease of maneuverability of nursery unit A. Upper leg section 6 is provided, substantially throughout its length with a plurality of vertically spaced openings 9 for selective extension therethrough of an adjustment, button-like member 10 resiliently mounted on a leaf spring 11 secured within the related lower section 7 adjacent the upper end thereof for urging adjustment member 10 outwardly for the reliable interengagement of said leg sections 6, 7 in any preselected axial relationship (see FIGURE 2). By forcing adjustment member 10 inwardly, by application of pressure thereagainst as by ones finger, Within the erstwhile engaged opening 9 in the 3,162,865 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 respective upper leg section 6, lower section 7 may be then limitedly rotated and thereon axially moved with respect to the associated upper section 6 until the selected relationship is effected. Thereon, the said lower section is returningly rotated to permit adjustment member 10 to spring outwardly through the adjacent opening 9 and hence thereby lock said sections together. Thus, legs 5 may be of any chosen length, such being dependent upon the convenience and comfort of the operator.

Sections 6 of transversely aligned legs 5 are interengaged by a cross bar b (see FIGURE 3), whereby each such pair of interconnected legs may be unitarily swung about the pivot at the upper ends of said legs between operative or extended position as shown in FIGURE 1 and folded or inoperative position (not shown) wherein said nursery unit A is collapsed into a compact form conducive to ease of transportability and to storage in minimum space.

Suspended from upper rim 1, throughout its extent, is a netting or mesh 12, as of nylon, fabric, or the like, and having an inherent resiliency, which is formed into general tubular or cylindrical shape, with its lower end edge being preferably bound, as at 13 (see FIGURE 4). Carried freely within said cylindrical netting 12 for disposition of its plane perpendicularly to the axis of said netting 12, is a base plate 14, being of rigid, relatively lightweight material, such as, pressed fiberboard, and

the like, and having a marginal contouring desirably corresponding to that of upper rim 1 and being substantially of like dimension. The lower end portion of netting 12 extends inwardly beneath base plate 14 and the opposed margin portions of the lower edge of said netting 12 are connected by an elongated flexible member or. drawstring, such as, of a length of string, rope, or the like, as indicated at 15, which is laced through openings in said netting and with its opposite ends passing upwardly through spaced openings 16 in base plate 14. The upwardly projecting free ends of said drawstring 15 are secured together to provide a convenient grip for pulling the lower end portion of netting 12 together, to take up any slack that may have developed during any converting operation so that the netting will be taut during usage.

There is also provided centrally of base plate 14 a handle member 17, as of rope, to facilitate manipulation of base plate 14, as may be required during adjustment of unit A.

Base plate 14 is restingly supported upon a rectangular lower frame or rim member 18, of similar shape and size as upper rim 1, being disposed in planar parallel relationship thereto; and being formed preferably of suitable tubular stock. Lower frame 18 is freely received upon cross bars b, inwardly of legs 5, and adjacent each leg 5 mounts a U-bolt 19 which extends laterally outwardly, each of which is in surrounding relation to the proximate legs 5 and on one side portion swingably mounts a hook member 20 adapted for engagement within an opening 9 of the upper leg section 6 of the said proximate leg 5, whereby said lower frame 18 may be supported by said legs in predetermined spaced relationship to the top rim 1, so as to, in turn, present base plate 14 at a desired elevation.

In usage, unit A is extremely versatile since by locating base plate 14 downwardly away from or upwardly toward top rim 1 the said unit may be converted into various distinct entities. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 1, with base plate 14 in full downward position unit A is ac corded the character of a play-pen, with the distance between said plate 14 and top rim being sufliciently great to provide safety for an infant playing therein. In this condition netting 12 is fully extended and presents a yieldable, reliable side guard for an infant. It will be seen that hooks 20 .are in disengaged relation as lower frame 18 is in supported position on cross bars b. V

If it is desired to utilize'unit A for an infant dressing table, such as shown in FIGURE 4, the user lifts upwardly on one end of lower frame 18 to present same for'reception of the hooks 29 at such end in the uppermost opening 9 in the adjacent leg sections 6, and then similarly raises the other end and engages the related hooks 21), whereby base'pla-te 14 will be disposed in horizontal position. In this condition there would, expectedly, be a considerable amount of slack in netting 12, and to correct such, the user need only pull upwardly on drawstring 15 until the portions of netting between top and lower frames 1, 18, respectively, is substantially taut, as such operation pulls the lower edge of netting 12 together and thus contracts nettinglZ for accommodating the particular condition of usage of unit A. r

In similarfashion base plate 14 may be located at points between the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 4,"in order to adapt unit A for service as a baby bed and as a bassinet. I in all respect similar to that above described in connection with the dressing table conversion, but with hooks 2t being engaged in openingil between the uppermost and lowermost of such openings to present base plate 14. at the appropriate level. Thus, graded height control of base plate 14 is presented by unit A so that a similar article of furniture may now provide facilities heretofore obtained only by use of a plurality of such articles.

It is apparent that unit A may be easily collapsed into a compact unit for ready transportability or storage in limited space, such operation merely requiring the telescoping of the lower leg sections 7 within their associated upper sections; with lower frame 18 together with base 14 being lifted upwardly into immediate contactive relationship with top frame 1 and then merely folding the two pair of legs toward each other into nestled relationship.

As shown hereinabove, lower frame member 18 will be supported upon cross bars b only when unit A is being used as a play-pen, and in this condition hooks 2b will be in disengaged relation. However, as the bottom plate 14 is adjusted upwardly for other uses than as a play-pen as described, the said lower frame 18 will be supported directly-from legs by means of the interengagement of hooks 20 within the related openings 9. a

It is of course obvious that thebase plate 14 is designed to receive a mattress or other type pad for infant comfort. e

As may best be seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 an auxiliary shelf, indicated 25, may be provided for supported disposition upon cross bars b. When unit A is used as a dressing table or as a baby bed, in which positions base plate 14 is located spacedly upwardly of said cross bars b,

sa d shelf 25 will be available for usage but with-unit A in play pen position base plate 14 may be disposed upon said shelf 25. or the later may be first removed. Said auxiliary shelf 25 may be of rectangular character and secured upon cross bars b in any suitable, stable fashion such as, for instance, by means of screws 26. The said shelf 25 will necessarily be disengaged prior to The converting operation in each such case is' In view of the foregoing it is obvious that the present invention is an extremely versatile device being capable of conversionfor various infant usages and with such conversions being accomplished by the average housewife without the exercise of developed skill. Furthermore, the nursing unit A is most maneuverable, and is endowed with a simplicity of parts, rendering it sturdy and stable in use and amenable to economical production. 7

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts ofthe nursery unit may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described without departing from'the nature and principle of my invention.

folding ofl'unit A into collapsed condition. Said shelf 25 thus provides a surface for holding the various articles necessary for proper baby care and attention,

desired to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. An article of infant furniture comprising a top frame member, a base plate, a flexible netting having a general tubular form suspended from said top frame memher, and extending downwardly for receiving the said base .plate and presenting same in normal planar relation to the axis of said tubular netting, said netting at its lower and extending inwardly beneath said base plate, drawstrings engaged to the lower end edge'of said netting beneath said base plate, said base plate having a pair of spacedvv openings, said drawstrings being threaded upwardly through said openings in said base plate and being mutually fixedly engaged above said base plate for providing a. grip for convenient manipulation for said netting to elevate said base plate by upward pulling on said grip, 21

bottom frame member in planar parallel relation to said top frame member and disposed below said base plate for support thereof, legs engaged at their upper ends to fixed to said bottom frame member and extending outwardly therefrom, each leg having a plurality of vertically spaced apart openings, and a hook forming member swingably mounted upon each leg-surrounding member for selected engagement within an opening in the proximate leg. t

References Qited inthe file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,140 Wolkerstorf'er Jan. 18,. 1910 1,336,480, Nelson Apr. 13, 1920 2,562,053 Mar s et al July 24, 1951 2,873,458 Adamson L Feb. 17, 1959 2,916,744 May et'al. Dec. 15, 1959 2,922,169 Werner Jan; 26, 1960 2,930,053 7 N0wels. Mar, 29, 1960 2,974,325, Mango Mar. 14,1961 2,991,486 Hamilton Julyll, 1961 Having thus described my invention, what I claim and 

1. AN ARTICLE OF INFANT FURNITURE COMPRISING A TOP FRAME MEMBER, A BASE PLATE, A FLEXIBLE NETTING HAVING A GENERAL TUBULAR FORM SUSPENDED FROM SAID TOP FRAME MEMBER, AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FOR RECEIVING THE SAID BASE PLATE AND PRESENTING SAME IN NORMAL PLANAR RELATION TO THE AXIS OF SAID TUBULAR NETTING, SAID NETTING AT ITS LOWER AND EXTENDING INWARDLY BENEATH SAID BASE PLATE, DRAWSTRINGS ENGAGED TO THE LOWER END EDGE OF SAID NETTING BENEATH SAID BASE PLATE, SAID BASE PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED OPENINGS, SAID DRAWSTRINGS BEING THREADED UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENINGS IN SAID BASE PLATE AND BEING MUTUALLY FIXEDLY ENGAGED ABOVE SAID BASE PLATE FOR PROVIDING A GRIP FOR CONVENIENT MANIPULATION FOR SAID NETTING TO ELEVATE SAID BASE PLATE BY UPWARD PULLING ON SAID GRIP, A BOTTOM FRAME MEMBER IN PLANAR PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID TOP FRAME MEMBER AND DISPOSED BELOW SAID BASE PLATE FOR SUPPORT THEREOF, LEGS ENGAGED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS TO SAID TOP FRAME MEMBER AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, AND MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID BOTTOM FRAME MEMBER TO SAID LEGS. 